discoveredinalj | Day 17 - Discovered in the Tinsel and Glitter

Mixed Troubles

"Doyle!" Bodie hurried down the corridor of CI5 HQ in a rush of panic.

"Morning." Doyle studied his partner. "What's up? You look guilty."

Bodie tugged on Doyle's sleeve until they were at the restroom door. He opened it and looked inside. "The coast is clear." He yanked Doyle bodily into the room, locking the door.

"What have you done?" Doyle asked, eyes narrowed.

"I've made a horrendous mistake!" Bodie said, throwing his arms wide. "You gotta help me or I'm dead meat in CI5!"

Doyle smirked. "Did you put your hand up Betty's skirt? I told you-"

"No! You know I don't do that any longer. Not since you 'n me-- You know." Bodie said, using his hand to demonstrate the age-old male symbol of a good wank.

"Since we are shagging each other? Is that what you're trying to say?" Doyle chuckled. "Such a prude, yet so randy in bed," he muttered.

"Ray!"

"What?"

"I gave Cowley the wrong pressie!"

"Eh?"

"You know I gave you that gift this morning and you stowed it in your locker." Bodie held Doyle's upper arms.

"Yes. You told me to take it with me to me mum's but not open it until I was alone."

"Right! But it's not your pressie! It's Cowley's." Bodie dropped Doyle's arms and began to pace.

Doyle planted himself directly in Bodie's path. "Is there something in Cowley's gift you don't want me to see?"

"No, no. Listen. I gave him your present and you, his. By accident!" Bodie groaned, rubbing his eyes. "He'll kick me out of CI5." He glared at Doyle. "And you too!"

Doyle scowled. "You're a moron."

"I know that. Now help me fix this!"

"How exactly."

"You go and get yours and I'll slip into Cowley's office-- I saw it on his desk earlier-- and exchange them. Presto!" Bodie gave a watery grin. "Easy, right?"

"Tell me exactly why you think you mixed up identically wrapped gifts with no name tags on them," Doyle insisted. "I'm not risking life and limb over your mistake."

"Some partner you are. Anyway, I was in Cowley's office leaving a report five minutes ago when I saw the gift, and on the one little corner was a piece of cello where I'd poked the box through. I hadn't done that to Cowley's gift when I wrapped it, only to yours."

"Hence, the mix-up." Doyle rubbed a finger across his upper lip. "Will it matter?"

"Christ, yes!"

Holding up a hand, Doyle said, "Don't tell me anymore. I don't want to be an accessory after the fact. I still might be able to salvage my career."

Bodie pouted. "Some partner you are." He held Doyle's gaze. "Will you help me?"

Sighing heavily, Doyle nodded. "Of course. That's what partners are for. Once more unto the breach, dear friend."

"You're a brick." Bodie looked around the empty restroom before he gave Doyle a quick smack on the cheek. "Cheers."

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Betty sat at her desk, diligently typing. "Go straight in, 3.7 and 4.5. He wants to see you immediately."

Bodie looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights. He looked down at the present Doyle was holding. For two hours he'd tried to sneak into Cowley's office. The man was holed up, working constantly, like the nutter that he was, Bodie thought. I'm so dead.

Doyle opened the door. Bodie didn't have the wherewithal to tell Doyle to leave the package on Betty's desk, so when they stood shoulder to shoulder next to each other, Doyle still had the gift in his hand.

"Happy Christmas," Cowley said flatly. Leaning back, he tossed his glasses on the desk and eyed his agents.

"Sir," Bodie said, standing at attention.

"Happy Christmas, Mr Cowley," Doyle said, putting his hands behind his back, thereby hiding his gift. "Do you need me here, sir?"

"You're partners, aren't you?" Cowley said.

"Yes, sir."

"I see Mr Bodie has been playing Santa." Cowley leaned forward and picked up his present. "He presented me with this earlier. I've told all of my agents I do not wish to be bestowed with gifts at the holidays, haven't I?"

"Yes, sir," Bodie snapped.

"Wasn't my idea, sir."

Bodie gave Doyle a quick I will kill you for this look. Doyle waggled his eyebrows at Bodie.

"However, since 3.7 has presented me with a holiday gift, I wanted to open it before you both commence your two days' leave. I don't require gifts, but I appreciate the thought." Cowley pulled on the ribbon and paper. A plain blue box emerged. "I know what one of you does, the other has certainly approved."

"Sir-" Bodie started to say.

"Yes?"

"Yes, sir," Doyle interrupted. "We did this together."

"Nothing, sir," Bodie said, staring over Cowley's head. "I hope you receive this in the manner for which it was intended."

Cowley opened the lid. He was quiet as he peered into the box. While Cowley was inspecting the contents, Bodie mouthed a silent Cheers, Mate at his brave partner.

After a few moments, Cowley placed the box on the desk. "I'm-- surprised but very pleased." He looked up.

Bodie tried to keep the shock from his face. Doyle looked bemused at Bodie.

"You understand how much I love Miss Walsh, now Mrs Cowley, and this," he said, lifting the bottle from the box, "tells me you both know and appreciate that even at our ages, passions can run deep. Thank you. Dismissed."

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"You gave him lubricant? And warming lube at that?" Doyle asked in hushed tones. "Jesus, Bodie, you are daft!"

"No, I gave it to you! I gave Cowley aftershave! And expensive shite at that!" Bodie whispered.

Doyle looked down at his present. He ripped the paper off and opened the box. "Wow, this is pricey stuff." He pushed the paper and box into Bodie's hands and unscrewed the bottle. "Oh, man, this is gorgeous. Yves Saint Laurent." He dabbed some onto his fingertip and then onto his neck. "It's fabulous. Cheers, mate."

Bodie sighed. "You get a twenty-five-pound bottle of scent, and Cowley gets a two-pound bottle of lube. Not how I imagined gift-giving today!"

"I'm worth every pound." Doyle recapped his bottle and grinned. "I got you a box of choccies. Come on, Santa. You can have them now."

Bodie tossed the wrapping paper into the nearest rubbish bin. He followed Doyle out of HQ and to the Capri. Over the hood, he said, "Happy Christmas, Ray."

"Happy Christmas, Bodie. Now get in so we can go and celebrate until I must catch my train in the morning."

Bodie rubbed his hands together. "Good thing I bought an extra bottle of that lube!"

The End

Title: Mixed Troubles
Author: LilyK (sc_fossil)
Genre: Slash, Humour, Christmas
Archive at Proslib: Yes, please
Word Count: 1,200
Warnings: None